Rowing Australia makes key appointment in new GM of Operations Mitchell Collins Vera

Rowing Australia (RA) is strengthening its capabilities heading into the crucial Olympic and Paralympic year with the recruitment of Mitchell Collins Vera as the General Manager of Operations.

Mitchell has significant experience across the sports industry, having worked, coached and volunteered across multiple sports, and joins Rowing Australia from the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC), where he was the Governance, Contracts and Projects Manager.

At RA, Mitchell is a key addition to the senior leadership team and will be responsible for the management and delivery of organisation-wide services and working with key stakeholders in the sport nationally, as rowing prepares for a busy and challenging year in 2024.

Mitchell has an impressive list of accomplishments at the WAFC, including driving the development of the WAFC Strategic Plan 2023-2025. He has also recently been seconded as Acting CEO of Volleyball WA and has previously worked as a Development Manager at Gymnastics WA.

“I am deeply grateful for my time in WA sport across multiple levels but I can’t wait to take on the challenge of working across a National Sporting Organisation and joining the excellent team that RA already have in place,” Mitchell said.

“I could not think of a more exciting time to be joining one of Australia’s leading Olympic sports and am looking forward to growing, learning and contributing in what is a legacy year for rowing as Paris looms large on the horizon.”

Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook OLY welcomed the recruitment and said RA was continuing to select skilled and high-quality people, to help drive a positive culture and sustainable success for both the organisation and the sport at all levels.

“Mitchell was an outstanding candidate and we look forward to deploying his skills across our sport. He is a strategic thinker who can deliver what we require operationally and has strong experience across the governance and integrity spaces” Cook said.

“We know RA will go from strength to strength and welcome him to the team.”

Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Sports Science from Edith Cowan University and has demonstrated an ability to form and nourish key stakeholder relationships with sporting clubs, athletes, coaches, umpires, government representatives, service providers and sport administrators.

Mitchell will relocate to Canberra in time to commence his new role at Rowing Australia on 8 January 2024.